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Showing posts with the label Depression Bipolar

Frequently Asked Questions about Bipolar Depression

Many people are curious about the answer to the question, “What is Bipolar?” Bipolar depression is one side of bipolar disorder, and the other is mania. Bipolar II symptoms include feelings of depression and what is called hypomanic episodes. Hypomanic episodes are manic episodes that never reach full mania. Bipolar I symptoms , on the other hand, are when the individual has had at least one full blown manic episode in their life along with episodes of depression. Here are some frequently asked questions about bipolar depression: Q: What is the difference between bipolar depression and major depressive disorder? A: Bipolar depression and mania are the two sides of bipolar disorder . An individual with bipolar disorder struggles with both depression and mania, while someone who has major depressive disorder struggles with the depression aspect only. Q: How is bipolar depression treated? Is it treated differently than major depressive disorder? A: Medications used t...

Is It Bipolar Depression or Major Depression Disorder?

A Bipolar Disorder diagnosis can often be difficult to make because there are many similarities between bipolar and depression . While Bipolar I is marked by a full manic episode at some time in the individual’s life, Bipolar II is marked by depression and hypo-manic episodes, which are not as extreme as manic episodes and may therefore be easier to miss. Someone experiencing a full blown manic episode might end up in jail or even in the hospital, and so the circumstances and emotional state of that person are hard to ignore. This is why a Bipolar I diagnosis is easier to make than a Bipolar II diagnosis. Bipolar II, because it is a mix of bipolar depression and hypo-manic episodes, is easy to misdiagnose as depression, and it can be uncertain if it is bipolar disorder or major depression disorder. Depression Symptoms Depression symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, the inability to enjoy activities the person previously enjoyed, changes in mood, changes in appetite, inabil...